By Loren S. Casuto
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello once again Charger fans. We are coming up on the NFL Draft and, as I did last year, I'm going to do the Chargers picks for all seven rounds. But before we get into that, there's some new news and rumors that have occurred recently that need discussion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Chargers trade CB Sammy Davis to the San Francisco 49ers for WR Rashaun Woods</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Chargers finally found a taker for the Candy Man in what is, basically, a trade of first round busts. However, that assessment is not accurate. Rashaun Woods was a highly acclaimed WR in the 2004 draft and rumor has it the Chargers were targeting him in the second round before the 49ers selected him late in the first. Woods is a possession receiver with good size, attitude and decent speed who was hampered by numerous injuries in his first two years and therefore, never got the chance to play much. Woods, you could say, needs the chance to prove himself which he never got in San Francisco. Davis, on the other hand, is a bust. He was given every chance to start and hold down the #2 cornerback job. Instead Davis was beaten constantly on every type of play and was dropped to nickel back where he continued to get beaten. At the very worst, they got rid of Davis who was a waste of a roster space for a guy whose rookie contract expires in two years. At the best, Woods learns from Keenan McCardell and James Lofton and becomes an excellent future compliment to Vincent Jackson and Eric Parker.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Eric Parker signs a five year contract extension worth $13.5 million</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There isn't a Charger fan unhappy about this player getting an extension. Parker was an un-drafted free agent coming out of Tennessee; He made the team and has worked hard and played hard every single day he's been a Charger. Parker is a clean living, respectful, team oriented player who is beloved by nearly every Charger fan. He earned it and I, speaking for the vast majority of Charger fans, am thrilled that Parker will be a Charger until 2010.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ILB <em>Donnie Edwards & S Hannik Milligan on the trading block</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Both of these players are in the final year of their contracts and neither have received extensions. Milligan is a good special teams player and went to the Pro-Bowl, though many concede that Milligan got the votes from another Chargers' special teams standout, Kassim Osgood. Recently Milligan has gotten very vocal in demanding a new contract, even refusing to participate in off-season workouts and hiring Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent. If Hannik thinks this is going to get him a new contract, then he does not know his *** from his elbow. AJ has never taken hold-outs and threats well and its doubtful AJ will concede to Milligan's demands. Donnie Edwards is the surprise on the trade block; he's led the team in tackles every year he's been a Charger, often doubling the teams' second leading tacklers' total as well as being the leader of the defense and a real upstanding person. However Donnie is 33; that is the downside of a linebacker's career, though it's hard to see how Donnie is fading, and the Chargers have two great young inside linebackers. The Chargers want a second rounder for Edwards and its 50-50 if AJ succeeds in getting what he wants for Donnie.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>ILB Matt Wilhelm signs a one year tender and S Andre Lott is signed to a two year deal</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wilhelm was the last restricted free agent the Chargers had left, and he was the one Charger fans wanted the most to sign. Wilhelm has great talent in coverage and run stopping and in 2005 he received a lot of playing time especially on passing downs. With Edwards possibly on the way out, either Cooper or Wilhelm would get the chance to start. Andre Lott was the Redskins starting free safety in 2004 prior to Sean Taylor coming onto the team when he had a season ending pectoral injury. In all likeliness Lott is training camp fodder but AJ does have a knack for finding great players in the bargain bin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now that the news is finished, let's go to the draft! The Chargers have nine picks this year; one pick in rounds 1-5 (19, 50, 81, 113, 151), two picks in round 6 (187 & 188) and two picks in round 7 (225 & 227). These are how I see the Chargers' picks going down.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 19<sup>th</sup> Pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Antonio Cromartie CB Florida State</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Chargers are, outside of the Saints, the most likely team in the draft to trade down. The Chargers' top need is offensive tackle, but it is too early to select one. The Chargers do not need a wide receiver or a linebacker (even if Edwards is traded) or a defensive end, which are the positions of many players going from picks 16 to 24. If the Chargers do acquire a second rounder for Donnie Edwards then the most likely move is up; the Chargers would attempt to trade up and acquire OT Winston Justice who, I think, is AJ's top choice. But with it too early to draft a tackle, the Chargers fill another need in cornerback. Antonio Cromartie has been called the best cornerback to come out of Florida State since Deion Sanders; high praise for a guy that has played in only twenty-five games in his career, started less then 20% of those games and was injured all last year. Cromartie is well sized (6'2, 208lbs) but still very fast with amazing ball-hawking skills and was known as a game changer throughout his short career with the Seminoles. He was also a member of Florida State's championship track team. Cromartie is one of only a few players to have a private workout with Buddy Nix and AJ Smith; if his ACL has healed, and all reports says it has, he could become the first real shut down corner since Gil Byrd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Other Possible Picks: </em>Tye Hill CB Clemson, Jimmy Williams CB/S Virginia Tech, Eric Winston OT Miami, Marcus McNeil OT Auburn</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Dream Pick:</em> Winston Justice OT USC</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Not going to happen:</em> Santonio Holmes WR Ohio State, Chad Jackson WR Florida</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 50<sup>th</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Daryn Colledge OT Boise State</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em /></strong>Offensive tackle is the most publicized of the Chargers woes; it's been discussed in dozens of articles (mine included) and message board postings since Roman Oben went down midway in the season. Oben, however, should be fully healed by training camp; ergo the Chargers do not need someone immediately to step in and play left tackle. This is where Colledge comes in. A four year starter for the Broncos, Colledge has the ability and the personality of an AJ Smith player. He has great footwork and excellent technique which has made him a brilliant pass blocker. Colledge is a hard worker who always gives 100% whether in the workout room, film study or on the field. Like many tackles, Colledge needs a year to bulk up (he's under 300lbs) and to improve his run blocking (he walls off blockers on running plays as opposed to pushing them aside). Nevertheless Colledge is already better then Leander Jordan and should eventually take over at left tackle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Other possible picks:</em> Danieal Manning DB Abilene Christian, Max Jean-Giles OL Georgia, Andrew Whitworth OT LSU</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Dream Pick:</em> Marcus McNeil or Jason Allen DB Tennessee</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Not going to happen: </em>Jon Scott OT Texas</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 81<sup>st</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Babatunde Oshinowo NT Stanford</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Outside of Halota Ngata there are few players that have the size or the ability to play nose tackle in a 3-4. One of them is Babatunde Oshinowo, who seems tailor-made for that position in the NFL. While just over 300lbs (which is small for a NT and is something he will have to work on in the off-season), Oshinowo is very stout and effective in taking on, at fighting off, double teams. He is very strong and moves well for a man his size, even showing some pass rush moves from the middle. Oshinowo is very well respected at Stanford for his personality, intelligence and character, all of which are aspects AJ Smith likes in his players. Oshinowo will have to hit the weight room after being drafted and add on another twenty or so pounds to truly be effective at nose tackle, but as he is right now, he could take a lot of pressure off Jamal Williams.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Other possible picks</em>: Jeremy Trublood OT BC, Kai Parham ILB Virginia, Paul McQuistan OT Weber State, Pat Watkins FS Florida State</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Not going to happen:</em> A wide receiver</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span /><strong><em>With the 113<sup>th</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Ryan O'Callahan OT California</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is based off of my analysis; I really like O'Callahan but I think he will drop into the second day because of a long history of injuries, a lack of upside and because California has produced few qualities tackles in the last few years. So why would the Chargers pick him? Because O'Callahan is a powerful blue collar offensive lineman. The Chargers already secured a left tackle in Colledge but the right side of the line is a question mark; will Olivea move inside to guard or will he stay at right tackle and if the latter, what happens to Mike Goff? O'Callahan is projected at both right guard and right tackle so he could cover either occurrence. O'Callahan is also a four year starter known for being a powerful dominating run blocker with decent pass blocking skills; if he locks onto you on a running play, you're out of that play. He needs to improve his technique so as not to rely solely on brute force and improve his conditioning to suit wherever he will play, but he is a great value pick for the offensive line in the fourth round.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Other possible picks:</em> Rob Sims OG Ohio State, Kellen Clemens QB Oregon, Montavious Stanley NT Louisville, Adam Stenavich OG Michigan</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 151st pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select David Pittman CB Northwestern State</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though the Chargers drafted Antonio Cromartie, some more depth is needed if Jamar Fletcher is not signed. With Fletcher currently unsigned and Sammy Davis gone to San Francisco, the Chargers have only two cornerbacks on the roster (not including Cromartie). Pittman is one of the top sleepers in the draft. He has amazing speed (ran the 40 in 4.44), outstanding ball-hawking ability and loves to get physical even with his diminutive size (5'11, 182lbs). He needs to hit the weight room and learn not to take as many risks but he could be an outstanding cover corner with a little more seasoning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 187<sup>st</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Dwayne Slay S Texas Tech</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attention Hannik Milligan; this is what happens when either a good player or an excellent role player gets a big head. In 2004 the Chargers drafted Nick Hardwick in the third round to counter Jason Ball's holdout. Ball continued to hold out and Hardwick started until the Chargers cut Ball in the middle of the season. Dwayne Slay is a very big safety (6'3"½, 216lbs) who causes a fumble almost anytime he hits a player and specializes in blitzing and run stuffing. He is quick but has a real lack of timed speed and is unsure of himself in coverage but he would be an adequate special teamer and, at his best, could be a great in-the-box safety for the Chargers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 188<sup>th</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Domenik Hixon WR Akron</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Chargers do pick a wide receiver in the draft it will be someone in the second day, probably late, who the Chargers can develop after a few years. Hixon would fit the bill as a developmental receiver. At 6'2"½, 202lbs he's got the size and he's also very quick (running the 40 in 4.36 seconds) who works hard and can go over the middle for tough catches. He must improve his route running but he's worth a middle sixth round selection as a prospect.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 225<sup>th</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Jeff King TE Virginia Tech</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Chargers acquired Aaron Shea in free agency to backup Antonio Gates but the third TE, Ryan Krause, a converted WR, has been injured often and has shown little to prove why he should be on the Chargers roster. King is a better blocker then a receiver and is not fast but he is very trust worthy on short and intermediate routes and has good hands. At the very least King could be the blocking TE that the Chargers crave and at the best, he would eventually replace Aaron Shea at #2 TE.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><em>With the 227<sup>th</sup> pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Tarvaris Jackson QB Alabama State</em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember AJ Feeley? He remains your primary backup and that's not an ideal situation for any team. Tarvaris Jackson is another small school prospect that reminds a lot of scouts of former Chargers QB Cleo Lemon. Jackson is great on the run and has a cannon for an arm, but struggles with his accuracy. He's a very long term project but with time and training he could develop into a fantastic backup Quarterback.</p>
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